Lee smiled, slight dimples popping in his stubble-roughed cheeks. "Okay." He winked. "I've got to go—"
"The setup," she finished, nodding. "Not sure if I should wish you luck or not."
His grin made her cheeks heat, and she glanced away. When she looked back, he watched her with an expression she couldn't quite interpret, only that it did funny things to her stomach. Then he squeezed the hand he still held, and let go before heading toward the stage.
Missy waited until he disappeared into the crowd, then drew in a deep breath. His cologne clung to her clothing. She huffed and shook her head, maneuvering through the crowd toward the table where she'd left her brother and friends. They had ordered more drinks and bar food, a tray of wings, and a basket of tortillas in the middle of the table. Thayne popped a chip, dripping with salsa, into his mouth as she slid in beside April.
"You were gone a while," he said around the food.
"Long text," she answered, avoiding the rest.
Thayne looked past her into the crowd, then slid from the booth with a grin, apparently greeting someone as they approached and extended his hand. "Hey, man. Good to see you."
In her peripheral, Missy caught sight of someone reaching the table just behind her, approaching from the dance floor. She turned to look, but Thayne blocked most of her view. A tall man, wearing dark clothes…
Missy's eyes popped wide and heat infused her from toe to hairline.
"Lee, you know Leone's wife April, right?"
"Oh, yeah," he said with a wide smile, his voice clear and sharp. He extended his hand to Leone on the other side of the table from Missy. "Good to see you, man." Then he turned enough to see April.
And Missy.
Lee's casual smile eased into a grin that melted Missy's toes. She was sure she might burst into flames with her next breath. His smile was enough to warm her by its power alone, but that warmth battled with the fury at her brother when she realized she was the dreaded "setup."
